Banana-laden pickup falls into a ravine in Bandarban's Alikadam, mechanic killed, three injured
A banana-laden pickup lost control and fell from a sloped hilly road in Alikadam upazila of Bandarban. One person was killed in this accident and three more were injured.
The accident took place at around 8 pm on Sunday (18 October) in the Naikkhyangchhari Top area adjacent to Manthak Mro Para in ward no. 8 of Nayapara Union no. 3 of the upazila. As this hilly road is sloped, after losing control the vehicle overturned three times in succession and crashed down, local sources said.
The name of the deceased is Sahab Uddin (40). He is the son of the late Nazir Ahmed of the Bhangarmukh area of ward no. 9 of Chakaria municipality in Cox's Bazar district. He was a vehicle mechanic by profession.
Banana trader Abdul Mobin (32) was seriously injured in the accident. He is the son of the late Nurul Kabir of the same area. The pickup's driver Jobayer Hossain Rubel (32) was also injured; his home is in the Yangchha area of Lama police station area in Bandarban. Another injured person is the vehicle's helper, but his name and identity are not yet known.
According to local sources, the pickup had loaded bananas from Naikkhyangchhari Top and was coming down the sloped hilly road. On the way, when the vehicle's brakes failed, the driver lost control and the vehicle overturned and fell below Naikkhyangchhari Top.
On receiving news of the accident, members of the pickup owners' association from the Alikadam Sadar area rushed to the spot. They rescued the injured and brought them to Alikadam Upazila Health Complex.
Dr Mohammad Hanif, Alikadam Upazila health and family planning officer, has confirmed the incident. He said four people injured in the road accident were brought to the hospital at around half past eight at night.
Dr Hanif also said Sahab Uddin died while undergoing treatment at the hospital. As the condition of the seriously injured Abdul Mobin was critical, after primary treatment he was sent to Cox's Bazar District Sadar Hospital for better treatment.
The other two injured were given primary treatment at Alikadam Upazila Health Complex itself, the hospital authorities said.
Shahed Parvez, officer-in-charge (OC) of Alikadam Police Station, said that on receiving news of the incident, police went to the hospital and prepared the inquest report of the body. Legal proceedings in this incident are in process.
Incidents of vehicle accidents due to brake failure on sloped hilly roads are not new in the area. In the case of the banana-laden pickup too, local people have initially mentioned brake failure as the cause of the accident. Once the police's legal process ends, the body is due to be handed over to the relatives.
